Toffoli leads LA Kings’ 5-1 rout of Vancouver

Created: 11/10/2013 7:35 PM

(AP) LOS ANGELES - Tyler Toffoli had two goals and an assist in his third game back from the minors, and Mike Richards had a goal and two assists in the Los Angeles Kings’ 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

Richards, Justin Williams and Toffoli scored in a 2:33 span midway through the second period for the Kings, chasing Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo in the process. Jonathan Quick made 25 saves, and Linden Vey earned his first NHL point with an early assist in Los Angeles’ 10th victory in 14 games

Luongo stopped 14 shots before getting pulled after the Kings’ fourth goal midway through the second period.

Dan Hamhuis scored in the Canucks’ first game against Los Angeles as division rivals since 1998.

The Sedin twins were held scoreless for the second straight night on the Canucks’ four-game trip to each of the reconfigured Pacific Division’s four U.S.-based teams.

Jordan Nolan scored an early goal in a game that turned out to be a showcase for the Kings’ two rookies.

Toffoli saw playoff action during the team’s run to the Western Conference finals last summer, and he was recalled along with Vey from the minors a week ago for the first time this season to fill in for injured veterans Jeff Carter and Jarret Stoll.

Against the Canucks, the 21-year-old Toffoli had a career-best three points in his 13th regular-season game, while the 22-year-old Vey’s sharp pass set up Nolan for the Kings’ first goal.

The Kings played without three veteran regulars due to injuries, and left wing Kyle Clifford went down with an undisclosed injury early in the game. Carter sat out his third straight game, while Stoll missed his second straight and defenseman Matt Greene was scratched with an undisclosed injury.

After a wide-open few minutes in the first period, Nolan put the Kings ahead in a sequence that started when Hamhuis tumbled and lost the puck at Los Angeles’ blue line. Vey, playing his second NHL game, nimbly deked longtime Kings forward Brad Richardson on the rush before feeding Nolan for his third goal.

Toffoli scored late in the period after two exceptional passes by Richards and Drew Doughty, who found the youngster with a cross-ice pass on a wobbling puck.

Hamhuis got the Canucks’ first goal in the second period with a long shot after a defensive scramble by the Kings. Richards answered 68 seconds later with a goal in front of Luongo, and the veteran goalie’s defense left him helpless again when Williams scored 1:46 after that.

Eddie Lack replaced Luongo, but the Canucks again abandoned defense and gave up a gaping 2-on-1 break to Toffoli and Richards, who exchanged the puck until Toffoli scored his second goal.

NOTES: Richardson spent the past five seasons in the Kings organization, winning a Stanley Cup ring while playing in 13 games during the 2012 playoffs. The agitating forward signed a two-year deal with Vancouver as a free agent last summer. ... Alex Burrows put the puck into Quick’s net during a power play early in the second period, but officials immediately ruled he had kicked it in, a judgment upheld by video review. ... Toffoli had two points in his second NHL game last March, and he had a two-point game in the conference finals against Chicago.